Strap cutting means for venetian blinds



March 27, 1951 J. J FINE STRAP CUTTING MEANS FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Fil'ed May 17, 1947 III'IIII'III'IIII INI'EN'I'OR.

JOSEPH. J. FINE Patented Mar. 27, 1951 STRAP CUTTING MEANS FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Joseph J. Fine, Dorchester, Mass.

Application May 17, 1947, Serial No. 748,791

The present invention relates to a device for measuring and cutting to correct measurements tapes or straps commonly used in the manufacture of Venetian blinds. These tapes or straps take the general appearance of ladders when they are opened up in a Venetian blind and comprise two parallel woven fabric strips joined at regular intervals by cross strips corresponding to the steps of a ladder which are usually woven into the side elements. The strap comes completely formed, usually in rolls in which the long continuous members forming the side strips overlay one another in contact with the cross-strips in a flat position between the long side strips. It is readily evident that in this arrangement, in order for the cross strips to lie fiat between the overlaying long strips, the joining sections to the long strips are offset along the long strips. The form taken is similar to that of a rectangular box which has been collapsed by bringing opposite parallel sides together, with the exception that cross strips are woven to the long strips always in the same direction. Due to this form in which the tape comes, it is not possible merely to take a pair of scissors and cut across the tape, since in that case the two sides will not be severed in corresponding places, but one will be cut short and the other will be out long. In fact, if the tapes are cut when together, it will usually be true that a cross tape will be severed in the cutting. 7

It is therefore the practice when cutting tapes to the desired length to separate the tapes from each other and out each side tape individually or at least after moving the cross tape out of the way. Objection to this method of cutting is that particular care must be taken to cut the tapes to the desired lengths since this determines the length of the Venetian blind. Due to-the confusion in getting the crosstape out of the way of the shears and due also to the fact that one tape must be cut in one place and the other in another place if they are lying together, and further because the operator must keep in mind the number of cross strips which must go into each length, it frequently happens that lengths are incorrectly cut and wastage occurs. If the lengths are cut longer, as for instance one cross strip longer, then they may be recut again, but if they are cut shorter, the whole tape length is wasted.

The present device aims to overcome these difficulties and provide a means whereby the strip length is cut uniformly and correctly, automatically and without any particular thought on the part of the operator.

4 Claims. (Cl. 164-41) The present invention also enables the strips or tapes to be measured off and cut more quickly, saving the operator considerable time and saving expense in manufacture and assembly.

The device of the present invention is simple and easily operated.

The invention will be more fully described in the specification below when taken in connection with the drawings illustrating an embodimen of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 shows the invention in elevation;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged View of the right end of the device shown in Figure 1'; V

Figure 4 shows a section taken on the 1ine'44 of Figure 1; I

Figure 5 shows an enlarged View on the section 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows an enlarged detail somewhat along the lines 66 of Figure 2.

In the arrangement ShOWn in the figures, I indicates the front end of a bench or table, to which the present invention may be applied. A rail 2 is fastened parallel to the front face 3 of the table by means of spacer rings or cylinders 4 and some retaining means, as for instance screw bolts 5 with countersunk heads which pass through perforations in the rails 2 so that the heads 6 will be flush with the surface of the rails 2. This rail supports a carriage i which has a C-shaped section 8 engaging the rail so that the carriage may be slid along the rail to any position. The carriage l is slid in the desired place on the rail and may be locked at that position by means of the wing nut 9 which passes through the wall ill of the carriage and screws against the rail 2 clamping or looking the carriage in its desired position. The carriage l is provided at the right side, as viewed in Figure 3, with a cylindrical collar ll supporting a post l2 which may be adjusted vertically up and down in the collar and locked in position by means of the set screw I3. The post I2 carries at its upper end a plate [4 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rail 2. If the post [2 is circular, then the plate US may of course be directed and locked by the set screw I3 in the desired direction. The plate i4 is provided with two shearing knives one, G5, at the top and the other, 5, at the bottom. These knives are each pivoted in the plate toward the back of it by pivoting pins H and i8 respectively. It is preferable to have one knife blade on each side of the plate.

In Figure 4 the blade [5 is shown on the forward side of the plate as viewed in the figure, while the blade I6 is shown on the rear side of the plate. These knife blades are operated simultaneously by the hand lever 18. This hand lever actuates a pair of cams (see Figure cam [9 being on the forward side of the plate as viewed in Figure 4 and cam 20, on the rear side of the plate. The cams l9 and 20 are mounted on a supporting shaftZl which extends through the plate l4 and holds rigidly both cams tightly on the same shaft. This may be accomplished by forming a shoulder on the shaft as indicated at 22 and holding the cam 20 to the; shaft; by means :of a nut 23 threading on to the end of the shaft. The cam [9 also sets against a collar and is held in place by means of a washer 24,the"nut25"of the lever arm I8 through whichtthe shaftspasses and nut 26 threading on the end of the shaftjl. The cams l9 and 2?.) work against the inner edges of blades and [6 so that upon the down movement of *thehandle 18 the blades aremoved together'over the'edges of the plate l d-against the cutting edges-21and '28. The'blade l-5'is provided with an extending-arm 29 which-worksin a slot '3ll cut in from the top edge of theplate [4, to which blade the helical spring'3l is attached at oneof its ends while the other end is attached to an arm '32' extending from the side of theblade Hi. In this manner the -blades l5 and [6 always tend to be held in theopen'position except-when operated by the lever handle l3.

Referring-particularly=to Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that at the left end of the rail-2, there isaplate 33-similar to the plate M. This plate extends from'a post 34 at the bottomof whichis -a- U-shaped clamp fidwhieh is placed over the top edge of the rail or bar -2-an'd clamped in-position bymeans of the set screw 35. The tape 38 has a crossstrip or rung31 on the outside of the plate 33. This'tape extends in the direction of the --measuring device parallel with the scale 39 from'the-left-end of the' device to the'right supporting end or plate-l4. Across strip or ladder 40 is in aposition to-the'right' of the plate i' l as indicated Figurel.

When'it--is desired-to cut strips to the desired length, the arm at the right is locked in position by means of the wing nut!) in accordance-with the desired length of scale-and the exactposition at which the cutting isto take place. This is always made-such-=that the cross rungs of the strip are on-the outer sides of the plates I l-and 33 respectively and bear against the surface of the plates. Anenlargeddetail of'one end of'this is shown in'Figure 6. It will be seen that the cross-rung t extending from the upperta'pe 43 is attached to each side strip in opposite directions, 1. e., the'tape Mlis woven to the side piece 42 in an element '43"extending to'the'rightinthe top strip and by-anelenient'ed extendingto the left in the bottom strip. The knife'bladeslfi and I6 are so adjusted that thecross strip'4llis left'completely in place and not severed when the two side strips aresevered. In using'the'device, the-operator puts the end crossrung 'overthe plate-33 and extends the tape to the-plate l4 putting a cross rung at the outside of this plate, the-length between the-two platesbeing the' desired cutting length of the strip. This strip is then'cut and as'many other strips of the same length'as is desired. The cutting lengths will inthis way be uniform and for the same number of cross rungs.

'Ir claim:

1. Means for-cutting Venetian blind straps to 4 the desired lengths, comprising a pair of plates having width dimensions approximately the length of the cross strips between the side straps of the Venetian blinds, means for spacing said plates apart a measured distance in substantially parallel relation to each other, whereby the cross strips may lie on the outer faces 01" the plates at either end of the measured distance, shearing means cooperating with one .of said plates including shearing elements operative on the top and bottom edges of said last mentioned plate at different sides thereof.

.fiusMeans. foraicutting Venetian blind straps to i the desired lengths, comprising a pair of plates having width dimensions approximately the length ofthe'cross strips between the side straps of the'venetiamblinds, means for spacing said platesapart a measured distance in substantially parallel relation to eachother, whereby the cross strips may lie on the outer faces of the plates at either and ot i the me'aSured f'dis'tance, 'ishearing means cooperating" withoneof said plates-includ ing shearing elements operative onthe 'top. and bottom edges or said last mentione'd' plate at nifferent sides thereof, and #a pivoted :cam having an operating lever, thecam engaging said'shearing elements to .bringthem against the edges-Iof the plate to sever "both --s.traps simultaneously.

3. Means for cutting Venetian blind straps to the desired lengths, comprising -a =pair of plates having width dimensions approximately the length of the cross strips' between' the' side 'straps of the Venetian'blin'ds, means 'for spacing said plates apart a measure'd'distance in substantially parallel relationto-each" other, wl1ereby the cross strips "may lie onthe outerfaces of 'the plates at either end of i the measured distance, -shearing means-cooperatingwithone of said-plates including shearingelements operative on thetop -and bottomedgesef said lastmentionedplate at different sides thereof; spring means to tension the shearing-elements in an' open position and cam means to movethe shearing- =elements for= simultaneously-severing both straps.

4. 5 Means *for cutting Venetian 'blin'd straps to the desired lengths, comprising *apairof plates having width dimensions "approximately the length of the cross strips between the 'side straps of the Venetian blinds, means for "spacingsaid plates aparta'measure'd distance in substantially parallel relation to each other, whereby the cross strips may l-ieton' the outer faces of the platesat either "end of the measured "distance, shearing means cooperating With'jOIiB. of said-plates including 'shearingelements 'operative on the to and bottom edges'of'saidlast mentioned "plate at (different sides thereof, and a helical spring having its en'd1atta0hedone tozeach shearing. element to tension thesame in openpos'ition, and cam means to move the shearing elements for simultaneously severing'both" straps.

JOSEPH J. FINE.

REFERENCES CITED .The. following references are of record inthe file of thispatent:

' UNITED STATES 1 PATENTS Number Name Date 284,968 Lindsey Sept. 11, 1883 -'7l3,650 "Mancha '"Nov. 10, 1903 842,556 "Jones Janf'29; 1'90? 1 ;090,297 Greenw'ell Mar. 17,1914

1,715,898 "Carri "June4, 1-929 

